There he received much company, and took a degree of pleasure in remarking the hesitation of each, and the curiosity of all.

Towards evening he ordered the doors of the Louvre to be closed, with the exception of only one, which opened on the quay.

He placed on duty at this point two hundred Swiss, who did not speak a word of French, with orders to admit all who carried packages, but no others; and by no means to allow any one to go out.

At eleven o'clock precisely, he heard the rolling of a heavy carriage under the arch, then of another, then of a third; after which the gate grated upon its hinges to be closed.

Soon after, somebody scratched with his nail at the door of the cabinet.